Orla Delaney and her Boyne Trophy team anticipated a tough assignment this afternoon (30th April) as they faced Rathfarnham Golf Club in the first round of this competition. Orla had two pairs at home with three travelling to Rathfarnham.
In Greystones, Orla paired Jennifer Moore with Margaret McGirr in the first match with Anne Costello & Grace Dodd out second. Grace had been called up just this morning after the late withdrawal of Ann Browner due to injury.
Away from home, Orla had selected Deirdre Ahern & Joyce Kirwan as her lead pair with Mary Hutch & Sandra Cotter out second and Jacinta Deane & Frances Towmey bringing up the rear.
The match in Greystones teed off thirty minutes ahead of the away match with Jennifer & Margaret halving the first two holes but loosing three and four to go two down. The pair responded immediately however with wins of the fifth and the tricky sixth to square the match. A loss on the seventh was cancelled by an excellent win on the ninth and the pair headed down the lane as they had started.
Anne & Grace halved the first two holes also but from that point they put on a masterclass, winning four holes in a row to go four up after six. Their opposition pegged one back on the seventh but from this was only a temporary respite for them as Anne & Grace managed their way in to a 6&4 victory.
1-0 to Greystones
Meanwhile, in Rathfarnham Deirdre & Joyce started like a train and, like Anne & Grace, found themselves four up through six holes and very much in control of their match. They went five up with a win on the eighth but turned four up after loosing the ninth. Wins on ten and thirteen closed the match out 6&5 – a tremendous result away from home.
2-0 Greystones.
Second out away from home, Mary & Sandra were having a tougher afternoon. Despite winning the first, the Greystones pair were two down standing on the tenth tee in a back and forth game. Only one hole was in fact halved on the front nine! The Rathfarnham players took full advantage of their local knowledge on the back nine, winning ten, thirteen and fifteen while losing only the fourteenth to secure a 4&3 win.
3-1 Greystones.
Right behind Mary & Sandra, Jacinta & Frances we also in a tough match. The Greystones pair won the first two holes to take an early lead but were back to all square by the eighth teebox and found themselves one down heading to the back nine.
As this was unfolding, back at home, Jennifer & Margaret were also using their familiarity with the course to their advantage and they went into a two hole lead with wins on the tenth and twelfth holes. It was going to take a very strong pair to beat Jennifer & Margaret from this position on their home course, and particularly with Margaret in such excellent form as she was in today. Wins on the fifteenth and a par win on the sixteenth were enough to close out their match 4&2 and to win the tie for Greystones.
Jacinta & Frances were all square, and fighting hard on the fifteenth when called in.
3.5 – 1.5 to Greystones
Congratulations to Orla and the whole team on an excellent performance.
